Expert: Scott A Wilson - 12/8/2009

Question
ok so i got the answer..but I need to know how to work it out..the book doesn't really show me..it is

-15xy - 10x divided by 5x

my answer is -15xy-2

Answer
The problem is -15xy - 10x/5x.
Since there are no parenthises, division is done before subtraction.
On the second number, 10x/5x, look at each part separately.
It is known that 10/5 = 2 and that x/x = 1.

Therefore the fraction becomes a 2, and since it is subtracted, it is -2.
Thus, we keep them separate since he units aren't that same.
That is, the -15xy can't have anything done to it, so we bring it along.

This gives us -15xy - 2.